Search results matching tags 'Geriatrics', 'Sports and Physical Fitness', 'women&#39;s health', and 'APTA and State PT Associations'http://community.advanceweb.com/search/SearchResults.aspx?o=DateDescending&tag=Geriatrics,Sports+and+Physical+Fitness,women%26%2339%3Bs+health,APTA+and+State+PT+Associations&orTags=0Search results matching tags 'Geriatrics', 'Sports and Physical Fitness', 'women&#39;s health', and 'APTA and State PT Associations'en-USCommunityServer 2.1 SP2 (Debug Build: 0.0)One PTA&#39;s Wish This Holiday Seasonhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/pt_1/archive/2010/12/08/one-pta-s-wish-this-holiday-season.aspxWed, 08 Dec 2010 21:29:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:55825Anonymous<P>Dubbed the 2010 PT Fundraising Drive, donations are being collected throughout Rhode Island to benefit the local chapter of <A href="http://www.massri.wish.org/" target=_blank>Make-A-Wish Foundation</A>. With a long history of individual charitable pursuits, Kevin Silvia, PTA, CSCS, of Performance Physical Therapy in Rhode Island, set out to do something bigger and better this year.</P>
<P>With an outpouring of support from fellow PTs and PTAs, Silvia endeavors to make the wishes come true for RI children who suffer from undisclosed life-threatening illnesses. "We are a profession that helps people so it's only natural for everyone to want to be involved. And when the effort involves a child with a life-threatening illness, it's hard to say no, especially during the season of giving," shared Silvia.</P>
<P>According to Make-A-Wish Foundation, granting just one child's wish typically costs $6500.</P>
<P>Since launching the campaign shortly before Thanksgiving, Silvia has secured the commitment of 25 local facilities and schools and is working to finalize details with 10 more facilities. Silvia's main goal this year was to establish the effort and raise money but he is already so touched by the outpouring of support that he cannot help but imagine the possibilities in years to come as more individuals and clinics lend their support.</P>
<P>Silvia noted that Make-A-Wish Foundation is an incredible nonprofit organization which does very little in the way of solicitation. "Make-A-Wish relies solely on donations coming in. It's an extremely professional process and one that respects each child's confidentiality, illness, circumstance and wish."</P>
<P>A very humble Silvia credits those who have joined the effort as the true heroes. But behind the scenes, he is working tirelessly to pull all of the details together. He has spent much of his time traveling between PT facilities to collect money and donation cards and to deliver Make-A-Wish buttons to those who are participating by adding dress-down Fridays to their fundraising efforts. Wearing a button in the clinic raises awareness of the organization in the community.</P>
<P>In the spirit of friendly competition, Silvia just upped the ante for those participating. Because a little incentive never hurt anyone, he has volunteered to donate a $40 lunch to the clinic that raises the most money.</P>
<P>Interested in donating to Make-A-Wish? Please visit <A href="http://www.wish.org/">http://www.wish.org/</A> to contact your local chapter to make a gift or get involved. Any clinic or individual in RI wishing to donate or gain more details may contact Kevin Silvia by email at <A href="mailto:ksilvia@performanceptri.com">ksilvia@performanceptri.com</A>.</P>
<P>What is your facility doing for those less fortunate during this holiday season?</P>